The principle of gating charge movement in a voltage-dependent K+ channel

Youxing Jiang, Vanessa Ruta, Jiayun Chen, Alice Lee and Roderick MacKinnon ()
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Youxing Jiang: Rockefeller University
Vanessa Ruta: Rockefeller University
Jiayun Chen: Rockefeller University
Alice Lee: Rockefeller University
Roderick MacKinnon: Rockefeller University

Nature, 2003, vol. 423, issue 6935, 42-48

Abstract: Abstract The steep dependence of channel opening on membrane voltage allows voltage-dependent K+ channels to turn on almost like a switch. Opening is driven by the movement of gating charges that originate from arginine residues on helical S4 segments of the protein. Each S4 segment forms half of a ‘voltage-sensor paddle’ on the channel's outer perimeter. Here we show that the voltage-sensor paddles are positioned inside the membrane, near the intracellular surface, when the channel is closed, and that the paddles move a large distance across the membrane from inside to outside when the channel opens. KvAP channels were reconstituted into planar lipid membranes and studied using monoclonal Fab fragments, a voltage-sensor toxin, and avidin binding to tethered biotin. Our findings lead us to conclude that the voltage-sensor paddles operate somewhat like hydrophobic cations attached to levers, enabling the membrane electric field to open and close the pore.

Date: 2003
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DOI: 10.1038/nature01581

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